History

In F.A.375, the Haladin crossed the Blue Mountains, the second group of Men to do so. They settled in Thargelion, the land of the Elf Lord Caranthir. Though they dwelled in Caranthir's land, they did not swear allegiance to him and remained freemen. After her father and her twin brother were slain in an Orc raid, Haleth became Chieftain of the Haladin. She kept her people alive for seven days while the Orcs laid siege to the encampment, until Caranthir finally arrived with reinforcements. Impressed with her bravery, he offered her a fiefdom in his land and the protection of his soldiers. Haleth, however, was proud and refused his offer.

Haleth instead led her people to the relative safety of the Forest of Brethil in the lands of King Finrod Felagund. In exchange for defending the Crossing of the Teiglin River, King Finrod would allow the Haladin to remain freemen. Years later, when Haleth died, her people raised a monument to her, the Haudh-en-Arwen. While her father had been elected Chief of his people, the Haladin chose to establish a ruling line from the descendents of Haldad. Because Haleth did not marry and had no children, her brother's son Haldan became Chieftain of the Haladin.

The Haladin remained in the Forest of Brethil for the duration of the First Age, and in time were known as the House of Haleth.[1]

Etymology

The name Haleth has no known meaning. In the language of the Haladin, hal means "chief" or "guard". Sindarin also has the feminine ending -eth. In Old English, hæleth means hero. It is possible that Tolkien got the idea of the name Haleth from there.